Bee BLOG

Holiday Giveaway!

To thank you for being part of this bee community, I am giving this cute Tinybumblebee mug away! Start 2018 with a new cup for your fresh brew. Follow me on Instagram to know how to win it :)

Hello bee readers, I have been meaning to write for quite some time but for some reason, every time I picked up my virtual pen to begin, the subject I had in mind didn't seem quite right or deep enough. In those cases I rather hold back than write only for the sake of adding content (like some blogs we know all too well...ahem!).

As the end of 2017 approaches, the need to stop and look back on the past year always arises. As intellectual and emotional beings, it is only human to want to process and define all that we have gone through and make something of it. This gives us the perception of control that we need to function better with. That is, if we can properly describe where we stand now, we have a clearer vision for what we are aiming for next. True, this is something we should do on a regular basis not simply at the year's end, but we are also social creatures and perhaps feel more accountable doing this analysis along with the rest of the world.

For my part, here are some take away messages I have understood from 2017...

2017 reminded me of how quickly life can turn around, in an instant. As well as I know this and I am the first to always say how life is now (and let's not confuse that with YOLO) my inner circle was shook with the threat of illness. The universe launched thunder bolts of life and death related events, taking us all by surprise, we plunged head first in an overwhelming reality. Thankfully everyone is well now. 2017 reminded us all not to take health and longevity for granted and further reinforced that life is now. Feel it now, say it now and no regrets. The dust has been shaken off and we are turning a page to something new, something very good. Gratefully also, quite a few rainbows appeared after the storm and my family grew, in all senses of the term.

2017 has badgered me with situations that have taught me to let go. That is something that is VERY difficult for me to do. Especially when it comes to matters of justice. If I feel a situation is unfair, I tend to get involved even if it's not my problem but for someone important to me. Something snaps inside and I need to fight for that cause. To argue and push until fairness is reached. Unfortunately, as you already know, not all situations can be won and some will take more time to come around. Some may never come at all! 2017 pushed me to yes, be the change I want to see. I learned to stop myself in my tracks before stepping into my armour and grabbing my sword. I had talks with myself, out loud to weigh the battles I was considering. While looking at the big picture I asked myself: "Is the cause truly worth it? Will the audience ever truly recognize what I am trying to say here?" and if the answer was no, I discarded all thoughts of engaging my energy any further and spared it for other more important matters. It was no easy task since by nature, I am one to persist. I was surprised at how well I let my temper cool off once I realized the situation in question just was not worth any shred of my efforts. How empowering it is to rise above and let go of the insignificant. I was pleasantly surprised by the universe's way of smiling and nodding at me for those glorious moments. I got a few pearls of wisdom this year.

2017 made me see how high I place the bar for myself. In terms of accomplishments and as a family member even. I work hard to be all that I can be as a daughter, as a sister, as a wife, as a career counsellor, as an "artist", as a Montrealer and while I am very content with all that I do and who I am as a person, I never quite seem to do enough. I am easily impressed by others' talents. This admiration of others while harmless does come with the price of blinding me to my own achievements and talents a short time after I reached them. While I am proud of myself to a certain level, I will never cease to be inspired by other individuals' abilities. That being said, I have to stop diminishing or underestimating my own. A dear colleague of mine described it as self-advocacy and I am in love with the concept. Doing it however will be a challenge. I will make this a resolution. Even though we should not keep those for the beginning of a new year, the timing seems perfect. It doesn't matter if others can recognize my potential or not. What matters is if Ivana does. For the sake of owning this resolution and to end this post strong...

2017 reminded me that I am a force of good and of stability. That while organized chaos reigns around me and I witness friends and family deal with cards of moving to a new home, welcoming a baby, handling a divorce, transitioning through career changes, battling illness, celebrating marriage, anything! ...I remain the same through it all. Though it doesn't mean change will not occur or that I don't actively seek it, I seem to always go through very long slices of life with grand discipline. While for some it is to pick up and reroot easily, always starting fresh somewhere new and seeking adventures, my legendary and unsurpassed talent is to grow strong below the surface and stride along unwavering. It seems that my purpose is to be a source of stable energy and strength in the good and in the bad for all who cross my path (well would ya look at that...I complimented myself!). Even my leo zodiac quality is "fixed" ;) Let's take a few examples:

University studies: 8 years First job after that: 8 years and counting...Living downtown: 9 years and counting...

Clearly I value experience and investing in long term relationships be them professional or friendly. Sure, my perseverance makes me stubborn: you'll have to convince me to change my mind. But if there's something you can count on is that, as previously mentioned, I won't let go easily and I will keep rediscovering what it is I believe in most and you, reader, are part of that! :)

I thank you bee readers for having read me, a little, a lot, throughout this year. ​​May 2018 grant your heart's desires. If you could wrap up 2017 in one word, what would it be? Mine would be: growth!

As you know, I am a big fan of the arts, especially music and dance, and I am absolutely delighted to inform you that I will be attending what is sure to be a moving and inspiring performance: BLUE DEPENDENCE by the talented Eva Kolarova on Friday.

When we met just last Sunday, I was able to discuss with her and go in depth on the purpose and all of the preparation behind this show. I was amazed at the dedication and pure passion that was sitting right in front of me. Having been a professional dancer for many years now, Eva admitted she always had the desire to one day be choreographing performances and take the lead on making her very own creations. Sure enough, BLUE DEPENDENCE is her third full length show. This time, however, not only is she self-producing it entirely, she is performing in it as well and the amount of effort required for this kind of project is quite grueling. Yet, there she is, taking the time to have a coffee with me while orchestrating it all.

Purpose

As we were chatting, Eva mentioned that there are many schools of thought on choreography and while there is none better than the other, she values the clarity of the message that is being conveyed in the work she creates: "I usually have a story and clear message. I really want to have an impact and for the person to have clear thoughts on the subject" she says. And what is the subject, the true purpose of BLUE DEPENDENCE? Addiction, which is something that "really bothers me, it is all over". She clarified that while we may typically think of addiction as dependence on a drug, it can present itself in quite many different ways. The dependence we have on technology, or our computers and smart phones for example "even dependence to another person" she mentions is something to be included in addiction. She is quite right! BLUE DEPENDENCE depicts the journey and the emotions that the individual goes through when dealing with addiction. ​

edited by Paolo A.Santos

Why BLUE?

So of course, I had to ask...why BLUE and not yellow? ;) "It is everywhere, it is a colour we can all see and connect with easily. It is also poetic!" fair enough. Perhaps also, we tend to feel a little blue at times when dealing with such afflictions. ​

Community engagement

Another unique element of this humble artist is the connection she is striving to build with her community. She took it upon herself to reach out to rehabilitation and healing centers to personally invite clients to her show. This performance would obviously be a cathartic experience in terms of expressing the motions they are living. She even met with a therapist who handles such cases to help her portray an authentic story from beginning to end: the euphoria, the struggle, the desperation and perhaps also a little peace. ​

It takes a team

by Sasha Onyshchenko

On top of handling the choreography and the dancing, Eva is showing tremendous leadership by managing all communication, marketing, networking including the logistics that inevitably comes with the organization of such a performance. Everything is falling into place for the two performances that are taking place October 20th and 21st at Places des Arts (my new home these days!) and though Eva very much enjoys choreography creation, the thrills of performing on stage call to her still.

​What marked me most however was the recognition she feels and demonstrates for her team as well as the fraternity they share: "I am so lucky to have beautiful artists with me. The composers, lighting experts and all of my dancers are extremely talented" she mentions. "I am grateful for their trust and all of the energy they are giving to me and to this project". ​

And how lucky we, Montrealers, are to have such artists in our city, pouring their heart and souls into its improvement and evolution, one great performance at a time.

I was very excited to attend the premiere of Stabat Mater and Beethoven's 7th symphony, as I usually am for any Grands Ballets performance, but this time particularly since it was the first "spectacle" for Ivan Cavallari, the new Artistic director. Also, the promotional video for this piece featured my ballet teacher, the beautiful Emma Garau and was thrilled to see her and the rest of the gang perform!

The first thing I noticed was the dancers standing there, already on stage as we took our seats. It felt as though we were backstage and the dancers were the ones watching us, already positioned in their respective spots already setting a more serious climate. In the first part, the Stabat Mater performance, the dancers and the duet of singing voices immediately tap into our emotional attention and one cannot help but feel the distress. A distress and unconsolable anguish from the mother that "was standing", which is what Stabat Mater means in latin. Yet, at one point during the performance, the women dancers wore high heels, bringing us forward to a more present and urban time. Reminding us that this same distress and anguish are timeless all the while releasing us from it by dancing and expressing these emotions for us.

After intermission, I couldn't wait to see what Les Grands Ballets had in store for us with Beethoven's 7th symphony and of course, you already know they did not disappoint. Setting a very different ambiance with their bright white leotards, the dancers were bouncing on stage like diamonds and feathers but moved with such precision. Being a drummer I can't help but look for timing with movements and let me tell you, every single jump, entrance to the stage, twirl and arabesque unfolded with the exact amount of energy to match the tempo. The dancer's movements expressed pure joy and enthusiasm, it was hard not to smile. Especially when I spotted Emma Garau on stage! I can't wait to see her in class Monday evening, what motivation for me to practice! Particularly though, I was impressed at the ease with which the dancers were able to shift from one emotionally heavy performance to such a light hearted and happy one. Each performance equally beautiful but with an extremely different presence; both will carry you away to another world; fulfilling the exact purpose of the art.

I applaud the entire team for this beautiful yin yang duo of pieces that came together exquisitely. I highly recommend you go see it...your artistic heart will thank you for it.

Hello Beeple people, It has been quite a few weeks since my last post and already the hot summer days are gone. September is here and as usual, the wind of change is in the air! Though I'm not doing my wardrobe switch just yet, the awkward days where one does not know exactly what to wear have returned as we transition from one season to the next. Oh yes, and the pumpkin-spice-everything too.

Just like one of my fellow bloggers Careers by Coco recently shared on her latest piece, it is time to write about revisiting preset goals. Oh yes, the ones we perhaps put on the shelf for a little while as we enjoyed the summer festivities and time with friends and family. Autumn usually brings a pinch of reality with schools and universities calling their fellow students back to intellectual labor, with the end of vacation and routine creeping back in, and finally with the crisp weather reminding us that we cannot bask in summer glory eternally (or at least in Montreal we can't...). In my last post, I mentioned to catch up and take advantage of the quiet times. Now that businesses are back to regular mode, the work starts rolling in. So I am really glad I took care of the following projects I had in mind:

I am wrapping up my online ethics class for my professional order- check!

Switched ballet schools and joined Les Studios which will be close to work and at an earlier time (sorry but 8PM classes don't cut it for me...)

"Big deal!" I hear you say. These aren't that major. I agree. Ain't not big deal, but leaving them to later will turn them into just that, a big deal, since I'll be up against a dead line. It's those little things that we leave to "another time" that end up catching up to us or that we never get around to doing and leave us with regret. Not taking advantage of the free time to cross things off your list will also leave you no room to add new goals.

So as you can see, I haven't given up on ballet just yet and switching schools will help me keep my goal intact. So will the new iPad. Sure it's expensive, but I already see a significant difference with clients as I can use it to work with them without printing anything anymore. It is practical and environment friendly. So even though you don't think some of your actions are truly meaningful, they are and carry more value than you imagine in staying in line with your original goals. Let it be said that everyone's goals are personal and attached to their reality and where they are at in the different chapters of their life. For example, I don't have children yet but perhaps one day one of my summer catching up moves will be to sign them up early to Italian and music courses. You can be sure I would be first in line for that ;)

If required, update your endeavors!

So if you didn't have time to check your list, that is totally understandable. You can work at it now, with the Harvest season coming in full swing soon, it's a great momentum to pick up where you left off and strike when you feel it's right. Unless your original goal is no longer what you want, which happens, waiting too long will sap on drive and motivation. If you lose sight of the purpose however, re-examine your goal(s) and the original intent you had. If the situation has changed and the objective it is no longer a desire or needed, cross it off the list and make room for the updated endeavors! Hanging on to erroneous beliefs out of guilt isn't productive and good for the soul. Accept that the nature of the situation has changed and that the goal simply does not fit with where you are now.

Easier said than done, but this isn't give up, it is adapting to new circumstances. So take out the broom and sweep those old goals out the door. Creating a new list of attainable goals can be quite refreshing too. Key word here: attainable and real. If these goals are too hard to reach you either need to renegotiate them to something you can see in the long run or you need a better strategy, i.e. elaborate a plan with key players and partners that will help you. But that's for another post!

For now, I am looking forward to warm bowls of chilly and a road trip to New York City with friends to see central park (an other parts of the city!) in the fall. If you have any recommendations of what activities we should do, comment or email me!

What about you bee reader? Any special goals or thing(s) you are looking forward to this fall?

So summer is finally here and man have we been waiting for it here in Canada. After six long months of winter cold, we are way overdue for the summer heat and the outdoors. There is still that cold wind that seems to come down on us and gets on my nerves but still, it's summer. This usually means that every single opportunity we have to enjoy a fresh cup of white sangria on a sunny terrace somewhere in Montreal will be taken. Oh yes it will. This season naturally brings a big wave of vacationers which of course translates into quieter offices and a slow down in business transactions. But while everyone is out there celebrating the season's festivities and tumbleweed is the only thing rolling at work, now is the time to strike.

Strike for what exactly? Catching up on all those little things we set aside and tell ourselves we will get to when it's calmer at work. Well, that time has finally come and it's now or never (In the voice of Elvis Presley:' "it's now or neveeer!") it truly is though.

Annual objectives

Take advantage of the fact that there are less interruptions, a little less buzz and a little less conversation a little more action please (That's Elvis again! but I digress). Go back to your annual objectives list and see if you are on track. If not, get your ducks in a row and make some significant progress before you get really busy again

On the other hand, if you're on schedule and have time to spare, this is indeed the time to catch up in other areas or take initiatives on new projects and ideas that have been on the back burner for a while. So go ahead, organize that plan with clear steps, call up a meeting with your team and get the ball rolling before it's too late.​

What needs updating and improvement?

Not sure what to start with? Begin by going back to the basics of how you get your work done every day. Is there anything there that needs updating? Any forms that could become digital and paperless? Take a step back and observe what needs smoothing over. Call up a meeting with the team and share the initiative, two heads are better than one. Sure, a few colleagues may be on vacation at the moment but it is still the right time. Re-questioning working methods is always a good idea to improve processes and making sure we are up to date with the latest trends and practices. Which leads me to my next point. ​

Updating your skills

When is the last time you took a class or participated in a workshop? If you're like me and are member of a professional order (designation), you are obligated to complete a certain number of hours of pertinent training every five years. Knowing that summertime can be calmer, strike at the opportunity to get a few classes done. Myself? I signed up for an online deontology and ethics class, one that had been staring at me for a while and I'm finally getting it over with.

Another idea could be to organize learning lunches for some coaching and team development. Sharing ideas, tips and tricks amongst colleagues also reinforces team spirit and trust.

Network

It's terrace season and what better excuse to invite someone for a happy hour than the sunny weather? Everyone is in the mood to extend their day with a tasty drink and good company. Think about it, will you want to do this on a dark winter evening when you'll have a blizzard to face? No. Take advantage of the psychological effects that the lightened atmosphere and the festivities has on society to network! Solidify acquaintances and friendships with a warm breeze in your hair and you sunglasses on.

Finally, do make sure to take time to relax and disconnect from the world a little. That too is quite the investment! ;)

As a career consultant, I see about 120 career transitioning clients a year. Some know exactly what they are looking for next, others have not got a clue. No matter what though, every individual is different and he or she is looking for something that will answer his or her needs at the moment. There would be many ways to categorize anyone who is currently looking for a job, however, one that I find life changing is the difference between those who value their work and those who merely see it as revenue.

​Yesterday, my parents, Phil and I visited my grand-parents for Father's Day and over a few slices of bread, cheese and glasses of wine, my nonno Alfredo (grand-father) told us about his days as a foreman. He explained how his humble beginnings as a construction worker quickly catapulted him into becoming an expert in drilling and blasting with controlled use of explosives. Wait, what? Explosives? Like actual dynamite? (so now you get the title) Yes, dynamite. Alfredo became what we call "Dynamiteur" en français, in the excavation of very well known aqueduct projects in the city of Montreal. But who wanted to be in charge of such dangerous work? "No one!" said my grand-father.

Internally connecting to your work

Dealing with explosives for excavation purposes was not a job many around him wanted for its obvious heavy responsibility and life threatening consequences. Being quite human himself, Alfredo wasn't unafraid of the explosives. Rather, his desire for leadership, for learning and for him to gain more responsibility were stronger. So while everyone else turned away from handling explosives, Alfredo was the first to walk up to the task and start the official training process to get his permit. I also suspect that his experience as a WWII soldier and new-comer to Canada contributed to his familiarity with explosives and his perseverance: he was used to braving the unknown. He mentioned that after his training, he was the only one in his crew who could read and understand plans. Rather than let himself be overcome by uncertainty, he took the time to understand what needed to be done and was grateful for the trust his supervisor gave him. He connected with his work through purpose and by the use of his transferable skills. Keep in mind also that nonno had left everything behind to come find opportunity and be his own boss. He took every single chance that would get him closer to his goal of gaining decisional power at work. Sure enough, he was rapidly promoted to foreman while still controlling the use of explosives.

Though I am certain being promoted enabled my nonno to get a higher pay, it was not his first motive. He also worked in very difficult conditions: risking his life with every decision, working in dangerous areas and outside rain or shine, not having access to a phone not a pharmacy all the while learning another language. It was his internal connection to his work that lead him to success. The simple use of his natural abilities and the simple fact that he saw meaning in his work. That was the key to outstanding performance and happiness.

Of course, one can argue that there are different motives to work and I agree with that. Individual differences are of course at the base of what motivates each and everyone of us. However, I still believe that when you value what you do and don't just do it because it's: "literally, like, 15 minutes from home by car and the benefits are good", the quality of your work will be much greater and so will the rewards of accomplishing it. The greater you feel, the more your mental and physical health will benefit from it. On the other hand, the effects of the generous employer will inevitably fade with time. Individuals slowly start to do their work mechanically and without purpose. Before they know it, five years have come and gone and the "connectedness" to their work has completely vanished.

A simple question to help identify what makes one happy at work: what are the the tasks that make you happy? What moments to you feel most useful? What projects are you most proud of? What are the tasks you are done with? Finally, what do all of these have in common? Food for thought.

Give it time and PPP!

Through the years, my grand-father was involved in the infrastructure and excavation of the Decarie boulevard and other big projects that required digging deeper than the metro level and managing three different teams at one time. As he was telling us his adventures, he spoke as though he had been there just yesterday and said with an unmistakable Italian accent "J'ai aimé mon travail, il faut aimer son travail". Initially, as everyone else, using dynamite wasn't something my grand-father expected to enjoy. Yet, as he began to understand its mechanisms and master the art of using explosives safely to excavate, build and therefore contribute to the city's infrastructure, the appreciation for his own work grew and consequently so did his expertise and leadership. What better way to feed motivation than by being passionate for what you do every single day? As you see, it is a self-feeding cycle.

Often times now, with all of the different jobs and positions that exist, we are quick to dismiss what we dislike. I often hear the following in my office: "It wasn't for me, I wasn't passionate about it", Ok, fair enough. How long did you practice your work though? Did you truly give it a chance or were you discouraged by the environment, lack of support or other such factors? It can take years before we start feeling like we truly master the nature of our work. The "triple P" will help you out: Patience in letting yourself be a beginner, Practice to learn and Perseverance when facing obstacles. ​

The lasting effect of loving your work

It may be easy to underestimate the importance of a profession while being young. As time goes by though, human beings look for purpose in the life they have lead thus far. Yesterday, my nonno disappeared in the basement for a while and returned a few moments later holding an old and dusty work bag. He unzipped it to reveal its contents, and out came two construction hats with his name on them, an attachable light for walking through dark tunnels, old protective glasses, a small leather pocket with a tiny aspirin tin box inside and plasters, a variety of other tools and a lock with all of the keys to the explosives that were under his supervision. As my 95 year old grand-father explained all of this to me, I marveled as his sharp memories. I can assure you that listening to his stories about being a foreman working in the city and having the responsibility of controlling dangerous explosives is pure confirmation that when you truly enjoy and appreciate what you do, the satisfactory effects of it will last you a lifetime.

So the last time I wrote I had just gotten a new pair of pointe shoes (ballet) and was quite happy slash nervous on the matter. So here's a mini update on what's going on.

I finally went to my first pointe class and as I tied my lovely pink ribbons, which Sahra Maira kindly sewed on for me the night before by the way, I felt a familiar sense of awkwardness and intimidation settling in. Once again, I was the odd one out. Once again, I asked myself "what am I doing here?" But my tenacious spirit shut those two up in a second and I took my place at the barre. The teacher knew it was my first pointe class ever so she graciously let me get away with all my faults. God bless her. As I carried on though, I realized early in the class that my feet are nowhere near being ready to take me up on pointe. That is, up on my big toes. So I kept on with half pointe and that was much better.

Another misfortune is the fact that my pointe shoes were too big for me👎. Something that both the teacher AND Sahra had immediately noticed. So I went back to Rossetti's and explained it all and Mr. Winston was totally cool about it, like he promised. So back to the drawing board it was for me, trying on different pairs. Unfortunately the pairs that would likely fit best were backordered. So June has arrived and out of the three I am waiting for, one pair has arrived. The rest are expected in late June. So I am patiently waiting for them to pick up where I left off. That being said, I thought it was important to share that with you, dear reader. I haven't given up. Then again, do I ever? Not unless I have decided that the goal is no longer the right one for me.

It happened. I made the move. Me, Ivana, now own a pair of beautiful pink satin pointes ballet shoes. At 34 years of age, I never thought I would ever get to cross that off my bucket list but there it is. How did I get here?? Well, after taking the equivalent of many years of dance class, working out and 1 year of classical adult ballet, I asked the studio director if I could give it a try, knowing fully well that my goal isn't to be a center-stage ballerina, and he gave me his blessing on the condition that I would continue regular ballet classes on the side to maintain technique. I am still not sold that I can pull this off knowing how gruelling this will be, but simply knowing that I can try is more than enough for me. I will have gone all the way and, in the world of me, that road leads to no regrets.

Rossetti's 🙌 😍

After hearing all kinds of stories on how big a deal your first pair of pointes is, I felt like a fraud. Y'know, the usual: "I don't deserve this, after all, I haven't done the years and year of training this truly requires". But, I reminded myself that if my teacher gave me the green light, I must be going something right, there must be potential to unlock there. So with that in mind, I blew the dust off my childhood fantasy and on to purchase these "slippers" I went. Where did I go? Why, no other place than Montreal's famous Rossetti boutique. After all, I went there for my tap dancing shoes ten years ago and most of my ballet wear and all were great quality purchases. Yet, every time I went, I would admire the mountains of perfectly categorized pointe shoes and salivate over their beauty. Never would I even dare to dream I would one day own a pair. So you can imagine me today, as I walked in, knowing I was to be one of those girls who would be sitting in that old wooden chair having the pointe shoe expert Sean Winston ask me to get up on pointe and say "how does that feel?". But yup, it was happening.

​Luckily for me, the lady managing appointments and serving clients seated me and kindly congratulated me on this rite of passage. Even after I explained my situation, she mentioned that most girls getting their pointe shoes aren't dancing for les Grands Ballets but rather for fun and that age is no longer a factor. Then, to my shock and delight, as though she read right through my heart, she turned to me and said: "That will be one more thing to cross off your bucket list!"...and that's when I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. ​

No easy task 🙄 👣

Pinterest

Needless to say, I wore fitting black leggings and white t-shirt with a wrap so as to show my lines better when rising on pointe. After lending me short nylon socks and comforting sockets, Mr. Winston immediately started to pick out shoes for me and adjusting size and style as he passed me different kinds. As I tried them on, I always felt a little jolt of "Oh my GOD! I'm doing it" but Mr. Winston wasn't satisfied with the fitting. Observing carefully my feet and how I behaved, pulling a little psychology on me: "you're hesitating, these aren't right for you". His mind was focused on finding what I needed and he remained kind and patient as I was placing the numerous pairs on and off my feet. I once mentioned that perhaps it was I who wasn't performing well enough and he said that was rubbish and that it was his job to find the right pair for my feet. I was so surprised by this generosity.

He believed in me and he knew I wasn't quite there yet, so we continued on our journey. We went though Russian shoes, Australian shoes, French shoes, all were different yet seemed to look the same. Every time I rose up to pointe, it wasn't to his satisfaction and he does his best to respect the dance studio's requirements. After an hour of trying on and re-arranging the shank and what not, we agreed on a pair that seemed to fit best for now. He wanted me to try one style with a shorter vamp *see image for ballet jargon* but he didn't have any at the store. However, because of their guarantee, I need not worry. I can return at any time and switch them. That's the cool thing about these old school trades and boutiques, the professionals working there honour their word.

So I slipped my pink Gazelles back on and paid for my childhood dream shoes. It is real now and I am well aware that I do not quite know what I am throwing myself into. Who knows? Maybe I will go to class on Tuesday and find out that this truly isn't for me or perhaps not. Ballet hasn't been easy thus far so I may as well try to make it though by knocking on the most resistant of doors: pointes.

I have always known that I am a soldier more than I am a general. I seek to inspire and influence positively. Being responsible for the performance of others is something I am simply not built for. As a soldier I am, however, the ultimate ally and the pure definition of loyalty in team spirit. I will greatly contribute to a harmonious work environment by remaining positive through turbulent times. I never give up and am believing in the good of others until proven crap. Those are what make me the ideal soldier in a given team. That being said, I do know a person who is the perfect general. The kind who got to know her soldiers well and poured her heart and soul into her work. An exceptional manager who surprised even the most unbelieving; rallied our troop and turned us into shining stars ready to take bullets for her any day of the week.

For any team to be successful, you need two main ingredients: 1) awesome team members and 2) an amazing boss. For the past four years, that is exactly what my team was made of. Sure, no team is ever quite perfect. However, ever since this new leader was hired, a synergy existed amidst the practice because her values and style were perfectly aligned with those of the team.

Here's what makes her the incredible general that she was.

Despite all of our significantly different personalities, she was able to reach out to each and everyone of us and make us as one. Young as she is, her maturity is beyond her years and this is an element that inspired us all. Rational but never ignoring emotions, she remained calm during emergencies and knew exactly how to ground us and orchestrate all instruments for us to play harmoniously through the storm. Recognizing talent, she is a natural born mentor as she gently pushed us out of our comfort zone and trusted in our capacity to conquer. She also knew when to shield us and when to let us battle on our own in order to grow. She heard us and gave us a voice.

Unfortunately (for me), her time with us has come to an end as all good things eventually do. And while it is selfishly not something I wished for, I know better as a career counsellor but also as a human, that it was inevitable. It is only normal for such a talented individual to continuously outgrow her shell and recognize when it is time to move to a bigger one that will enable her to reach her full potential. Having an entrepreneurial streak, I have no doubt she will conquer other challenging goals and continue to leave her mark in the world as she did in mine. I have learnt a great deal from her and thank her for all she has done for our team. I wish her the best of luck in her new endeavours and know she will be successful.

Thank you NL for the passion you showed us, it reflected our own and I am forever grateful.

The holiday season is definitely upon us now and if you haven't heard Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is you at least once then you are living under a rock. Here in Montreal, the month of December usually also means colder weather. Though the past few years have graced us with mild weather for the holiday season, this week's glacial minus 30 was certainly a reminder of what mother nature is capable of. That being said, nothing beats sitting around acrackling and toasty fireplace to stay warm.

Granted not all of us have an actual fireplace at home. Fortunately, with technology and social media being the vehicle for trends that it is, everyone is now streaming lovely fireplaces on their television. The makers of these fireplaces are getting more and more inventive and talented in creating them. Why, there are so many different kinds to pick from: some with Christmas music, some without, some wih Christmas decor and live animals and some even have winter blizzard winds howling at the same time as the fire crackling! Though some people can find this tacky and unoriginal, I for one find it absolutely delightful. Here is a list of Youtubers that offer fireplaces that are sure to bring you back to your childhood memories or that will create new traditions:

Author

My name is Ivana. I love photography and meeting people. I hold a Master's in counselling psychology and work as a career consultant. Music is my fuel and an important source of energy in my life. I drive my vespa around the city and I love what I do! :) About this blog: me on my artistic soap box!